2001. head on

It was a tidal wave of sound. A hard and regular metallic noise that came from the four corners of the city and gradually made its presence felt everywhere. Strangely, no-one was surprised and, saucepan in hand, everyone wanted to take part in this general, spontaneous phenomenon. Uptight and angry, the release that welled up on the evening of the 19th December marked the beginning of a revolt that would lead to a national metamorphosis. There was a huge need of a political and economic change since the whole country seemed to be disappointed and almost 50% of the population were living below the poverty line. The revolution was not defined so much by the fall of former president Fernando De La Rua, nor by the series of 5 presidents that attempted to rule the situation on the following two weeks. It had more to do with the new participation of the citizens in the country’s political affairs. A change in people’s consciences, claiming for certain values they thought lost and a desire to be involved in these changes. For some it was the real end to the military dictatorship, its economic model and the political and social system that had resulted from it. The end of fear of the military junta and the 30,000 people who disappeared. This macabre figure has left room for a new one that will remain in people’s minds : 2001. More than a date, a promise of a new beginning.

Mercedes, Region of Buenos Aires. They are 14 brothers and sisters in the Jackson family. They used to work in the field where they worked with the horses of the rich people of this area, at 100 kilometers of Buenos Aires.... (+)

A graffiti in a wall near of the Congress with a reference to the former exchange rate between pesos and the dollars. The unrealistic equivalence of both currencies during the nineties was the beginning of the economic deregulation.

The crisis affected all the population. Lots of people abandoned their work spaces to go to the demonstrations in Plaza de Mayo. This bus driver, on the same spirit, changed his route so he could arrive and bring people to the riots.

Members of Villa Crespo’s assembly also squatted in a building that used to belong to a bank. Different social classes gather on the meetings so it’s not always possible to reach a consensus. That day they had to vote.

«We want you to have a better life». The advertising of an insurance company gets intervened by the «piqueteros» on a road blockage. With such techniques they manage to raise their voices and comunicate their message of social change...

«We all participate, we all give our opinion». The MTD of Almirante Brown occupied a plot of land to build their assembly room. This is a horizontal group where there is no leader nor representation.... (+)

The MTD, Movimiento de Trabajadores Desocupados (Unemployed Workers Movement), have a lot in common with Mexican movement of Zapatistas. They confront with the state in order to dispute for financial resources for their productives projects.

Celia Martinez is one of the workers who took the factory Brukman on December 18th 2001. Until that moment, she wasn’t involved in politics and this measure was just a desperate strategy during the huge national crisis.